This post examines a community-driven emergency preparedness program in Cecil County, Maryland, focused on adults over 50 with developmental disabilities.
It describes how the Bayside Community Network used an AARP Maryland grant to create tailored emergency kits, provide CPR and first aid training, and install a generator to protect medical needs.
Why targeted preparedness matters for people with developmental disabilities
People with developmental disabilities face unique risks during severe weather events: disruptions in routine, sensory sensitivities, and reliance on temperature-sensitive medications or specialized equipment.
Traditional emergency planning often overlooks these needs, increasing stress and danger when power outages, evacuations, or sudden relocations occur.
How Bayside Community Network is closing the gap
In Cecil County, the Bayside Community Network used a $12,000 grant from AARP Maryland to pilot a comprehensive, person-centered approach to disaster readiness for more than 100 residents.
The initiative combined practical resources, hands-on training, and infrastructure improvements to reduce vulnerability during emergencies.
The program components included:
Key lessons and best practices
Emergency planning must be person-centered: what works for one resident may create distress for another.
Training residents directly—rather than only training staff or caregivers—builds agency and reduces panic.
Infrastructure investments like backup power are often cost-effective ways to avoid catastrophic medication loss and food insecurity during outages.
Suggested contents for individualized emergency kits
While each kit should be customized, a baseline list helps ensure core needs are met.
Consider including:
Context: climate change and rising disaster risk
Experts at the University of Maryland-College Park warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
That reality makes local, inclusive preparedness efforts like Bayside’s ever more critical.
From a policy perspective, scalable funding streams and cross-sector partnerships are needed—linking nonprofits, public agencies, academic institutions, and funders to spread best practices and ensure equity in emergency readiness.
Final thoughts and next steps
Bayside Community Network’s work is a practical template. Modest funding, targeted training, and a focus on individual needs can dramatically improve outcomes for vulnerable adults.
Organizations serving people with developmental disabilities should prioritize tailored kits and hands-on training. Backup systems for medication and food safety are also essential.
Policymakers and funders can accelerate resilience by supporting similar programs statewide and nationally.
Actionable recommendation: If you run a residential program, start with a needs assessment for each person. Secure basic backup power for critical systems, and invest in resident-centered training.
These steps are low-cost relative to the protections they provide—especially as severe weather becomes more frequent.
Here is the source article for this story: Developmental disability advocates prepare community for disasters